Image via Ubisoft
Will it last? No, it likely won't. Was it fun while it happened? For NA fans? Yes, absolutely.
Valentine's day saw the obliteration of the "Near Airport" meme with a firey day for the region. There was an NA team in every single upper bracket first round today. Pessimists for the region had all four going out, or maybe three. Several had two. Few had one.
To say North America outperformed its expectations today is like calling the sky blue. During the first six hours of play, North America overperformed, but at one point it looked like the region was down and out.
Spacestation was down 6-3 on map two to NAVI at the exact same time Soniqs was down 6-3 to Elevate on map two. Both teams couldn't spare another round, or they would be knocked to the lower bracket, continuing the region's struggles. Both squads dug deep, adapted to their opponents well, and came out with match victories. Only Oxygen failed to convert a victory in the upper bracket.
The next six hours saw some of the most inspired play we've seen from the region in some team. Soniqs beat DWG KIA, who some (including this reporter) were calling the new favorite to win the event, in a 2-0 fashion. TSM FTX found a way to burn through reigning champions NiP in the first upper bracket round, then hung on to beat a profoundly talented, young FURIA team in the next round.
Just like that, NA put two teams in the upper bracket semifinals, more than any other region.
Who knows, maybe tomorrow the regions' performances come crashing back down to earth, and we say goodbye to three NA teams. It's very well possible! Every team at this event is good.
But if you're a fan of an NA team, if you were fed up with the "Near Airport" spam, take heart: today doesn't prove that we're going to see SI 2020-level excellence from the region, but it's far from the joke it's been made out to be. Team Liquid are still looking like the best team in the tournament, and most are going to pick them over TSM FTX. That's okay, healthy even: LATAM is still the best region.
However, NA fans should rest well tonight. Your region is the butt of a joke no more. It may not lift the hammer, but you now have an objective metric to wave in other's faces.
Every region is strong at SI. This is the deepest field we've ever seen. Accept nothing less than respect.